Rail and shim clamp.



L. BLESSING. RAILAND SHIM CLAMP.

APPLICATION PILE\D MAY 16, 1914.

Patented Dee. 29, 1914.

LOUIS BLESSING, OF JACKSON, llVfICI-IIGli-1N.

RAIL AND SHIM CLAMP.

Application lcd Mayl, 1914:.` Serial N o. 838,924.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs BLEssING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail and Shim Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In fastening track rails upon ties it is frequently necessary or desirable to bring the track to level or desired grade by the use of shims or similar means placed between the tie and the rail. llhere the rails are secured to the concrete ties or the like, it is desirable that the fastening means be such as to be adjustable to permit the insertion of a shim of anyy height, within a certain range, over the tie. It is also necessary that there be as little exposure to the weather or moisture as possible especially where the traflic includes refrigerator cars from which water isliable to fall along the roadway.

This invention relates to rail clamps adapted to secure rails upon ties of cementitious material which are adjustable for holding the rails when shims are placed beneath them, provision also being made for locking the shim itself to a rail in such a manner that it does not tilt or creep.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, F igure 1 1s a view of rail clamps that embody the invention, applied to a rail and tie; Fig. 2 1s a similar view showing the clamps applied to a track rail and tie with intervening shim; Fig. 3 is a view on X-X of Fig. 2; Fig. et is a view in detail of one of the clamping members; and Fig. 5 is a view in detail ofl an anchor stay.

Referring to the drawings, a tie l of any suitable cementitious material, properly reinforced, has the usual tie plate 2 with a standard track rail 3 resting thereon. A pair of transverse openings are formed in the tie below the tie plate 2 and preferably are provided with pipes or tubes 4. Angle bolts 5 are inserted in the diagonally opposite ends of the tubes or openings. A square or polygonal sleeve 6 is screwthreaded on to each of these angle bolts. A stay bolt 7 enters the other end of each sleeve 6 and holds a suitably designed rail fastener 8 on its upper end portion against the base flange specicatibn of Letters Patent'. v j Patented Dec, 29, 1914;,

tering or working loose.

A spring chat-r lVhere a shim as indicated at 12, is inl serted, an anchor stay 13 having flattened parallel end portions 14 is insertedy at each end of the shim, one of the arms being forced into the tube l or corresponding opening and the other engaging in a corresponding socket in the block or shim, the arm 14: being arranged to be asnug it in bothopenings. The stay lies between the adjacent clamp and the side of the tie so that it does not tend to work out. 0f course the length of the bolt 7 depends upon the height of the shimy that is used.

In placing the clamp in position the'en-y gagement of the square or polygonal sleeve 6 with the side of the tie or the inserted anchor stay holds it in position and prevents its rotation while the track bolt 7 is being turned home. Because of the disposition of the parts as shown, there are no screw threads exposed to the weather along the side of the rail so that the drippings from the cars or drainage water does not eiect them. It is to be understood that the parts are so proportioned as to impose the neces* sary gripping strain upon the rail regardless of the elevation of the latter above the tie by the shim. The yielding hold due to the use of the spring washer prevents vibration from causing the rail fastener to jar loose. -The clamp thus obtained is more effective than the standard fastening means and has the advantage of simplicity of construction and ease of adjustment together with protection to a large extent from the weather. o

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim is :--r

1. The combination of a track rail and a tie supporting the latter, ofv a pair of oppol angle bolt inserted in the face of the tie below the rail, a sleeve secured to the free arm of the angle bolt, a rail fastener engaging over the margin of the rail flange opposite the point of engagement of the angle bolt with the tie, and a bolt passing through the fastener in screw threaded engagement with the sleeve.

:2. The combination of a track rail and a tie supporting the latter, of a pair of oppositely disposed clamps each consisting of an angle bolt inserted in the face of the tie below the rail, a sleeve secured to the free arm of the angle bolt, a rail fastener' engaging over the margin of the rail flange opposite the point of engagement of the angle bolt with the tie, a bolt passing through the fastener in screwtlnieaded engagement with the sleeve, and a spring member in compression between the head of the bolt and the rail fastener.

8. The combination ofu track rail, a tie supporting the latter, and a shim interposed between the tie and the rail, with a pair of oppositely inclined anchor stays each engaging into the side face of the tie and adjacent end face of the shim, and clamping members each engaging in the face of the tie and hooking over the opposite margin of the rail base, each clamp overlying an adjacent anchor stay.

t. The combination of a track rail, and a tie supporting the rail, with a pair of oppositely inclined clamps each consisting of an angle bolt entering a recess in the side of the tie, a sleeve screwthreaded upon the bolt, a track bolt screwthreaded into the sleeve, a rail fastener longitudinally adjustable on the bolt hooking over the rail flange and a spring washer in compression between the bolt head and rail fastener, the sleeve being non-rotatably held on the angle bolt.

The combination of a track rail, a tie supporting the rail, with a pair of oppositely inclined clamps each consisting of an Y each having parallel inturned end portions that engage respectively in openings in the side of the tie and adjacent end face of the shim, the fasteners being disposed obliquely to and under the adjacent clamping mem bers.y

ln testimony whereof l afX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS BLESSING.

Witnesses C. H. HAND, C. R. STIOKNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

